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Insurance is always expensive regardless whether it's health, auto, home, life, etc. You're effectively betting against the odds of illness, accidents, etc. The problem with skimping on it is when you have a catastrophic occurrence like major surgery.
My Mom had such an occurrence with a kidney stone many years ago. I believe there's some government 1-time grant for low-income people and major medical events where they paid nearly 1/2 of the bill. But I'm sure there's serious income restrictions for that, and I can't recall what the program was. She had to take out a 15 year loan to pay the rest. In the end it probably would have been cheaper to simply take out insurance. Eventually she found employment that provided insurance cheaply anyway so it definitely would have been to her financial advantage but at the time she thought she couldn't afford it.
Another serious consequence of not carrying insurance is loss of coverage for existing medical conditions. It's my understanding (I'm not a lawyer or insurance expert) that if your coverage lapses 60-90+ days (going off memory) that your next ins. carrier will NOT cover any pre-existing conditions. What if you have cancer or some costly illness that requires recurring treatments? You'd be up the creek, as the saying goes.
With health, in my opinion, you can't afford NOT to have it. It's simply too risky.
<<<<<To newmom, where are you moving from? Do you plan to teach in NC? Just curious. Although part of the "deal" with my DH is if we move I won't have to work, part of me thinks I will really miss teaching. Maybe I'll do something part time later on down the road. Do you find that the pay is a lot less in NC compared to where you are coming from? I'm moving from San Diego and the pay is dramatically less. Any known reasons why? Good luck with everything.
Kodee--Hello. We are moving from NJ as soon as our house sells. Yes, I plan to teach in NC. I am sort of in the reverse of your situation...I've only been teaching 1 1/2 years(was a SAHM for 7 years) and got my teaching degree after my daughter was born(did it part-time). Anyway..I am just beginning my teaching career now at age 40...so I have a LONG way to go..LOL.(I was a mortgage underwriter for 10 years before I had my daughter). I've done a lot of research about transferring my licence to NC and finding a job. I have been in touch with MANY principals from Johnston County, where we plan to move, and plan on meeting/interviewing with them at the end of June, and going to the teacher job fair as well while I am there. We've visted the Clayton area 2x over the past year and have decided that is where we want to move.
Anyway, my teaching certification does not laterally transfer to NC because I am not considered "highly qualified", meaning in NJ I did not have to take the PRAXIS II test to get certified here(I only had to take the PRAXIS I). Anyway, I am taking the PRAXIS II this coming Saturday and hopefully I'll pass and I'll be all set to go. The licensure dept. assured me that is the only requirement...all of my other credentials are valid.
I will tell you that the principals I have spoken to on the phone(2 granted me phone interviews) were AWESOME! SOOOOOO friendly, helpful and encouraging. I am very hopeful and encouraged that I will get a job by Setpember.
Starting salary is lower than I am used to. In NJ, in my district, starting salaries are @$41,000. There its $28,000. HOWEVER, I did read where they do offer a "performance bonus" of up to $5,000..so that helps. There also is no union. Which of course is good in some ways, bad in others...depending on your take on unions(I am not a big fan..so this is actually a perk). Anyway...I really have no insight as to why salaries are lower..but that seems to be par for the course with the South in general.
Now all we have to do is sell our house here in NJ <sigh> Patience, patience..I Know.
We need national health like the UK and Canada. At least everyone will have somewhere to go and can pay private doctors if they want this and can afford it.
See the movie "Sicko" and you'll understand how backward we are. Consumer Reports just explained why costs are so high in this month's issue. So much waste and greed, it's beyond belief.
United Healthcare has had issues with many providers. Just resolved their situation with wakeMed.
We need national health like the UK and Canada. At least everyone will have somewhere to go and can pay private doctors if they want this and can afford it.
See the movie "Sicko" and you'll understand how backward we are. Consumer Reports just explained why costs are so high in this month's issue. So much waste and greed, it's beyond belief.
United Healthcare has had issues with many providers. Just resolved their situation with wakeMed.
You must be paid by Michael Moore for all of the free publicity you give him. Did you see John Stossel interview him on 20 20? Do you know the wait time to see a specialist in Canada is 4 months because when anything is "free" it ends up being rationed? Wealthy people in Canada who get cancer often come here to get treatment . By the way, we're self employed and have employees and pay our own family BCBS insurance plus about 70 percent of our employees' premiums so we're well aware of how expensive it is.
You must be paid by Michael Moore for all of the free publicity you give him. Did you see John Stossel interview him on 20 20? Do you know the wait time to see a specialist in Canada is 4 months because when anything is "free" it ends up being rationed? Wealthy people in Canada who get cancer often come here to get treatment . By the way, we're self employed and have employees and pay our own family BCBS insurance plus about 70 percent of our employees' premiums so we're well aware of how expensive it is.
You have obviously been feed a ton of propaganda by the American health insurance industry.
I am from Canada, and having used both the the Canadian and US system I can say without a doubt that the Canadian health care system is far superior. Wait time are not 4 months, and those that exist are only for non-essential surgeries. If you are sick or injured you will receive some of the best care in the world. My father had lymphoma and spent months in the hospital. He received excellent care, and didn't have to worry about the insurance not covering him. He fully recovered.
The times I have gone to the hospital in the US even with BCBS coverage have been slow, complicated, and expensive.
The Canadian system although not perfect, destroys what you have in the USA. I would never consider for a second that Canada should adapt a US system. You really are paying WAY more for exactly the same procedures. The Canadian system is per capita is far cheaper. Dollar for Dollar we do way better. Hospitals in Canada only bill the government around $100 a night for a room, as apposed to the thousands of dollars that the US insurance companies get charged.
Health care is one of the very few things where the free market does not do a better job.
We found BCBS to be quite expensive although wonderful insurance.
We've used American Republic, and MidWest, both as self employed coverage.both with high deductibles. So those might be ones to check out for lower payments a month.
NC offers a program for children only that covers their healthcare similar to a healthy start program in other states. the website is Health Choice for Children - North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance
That one's based on income though, so if you make too much, it won't work. But, it's worth it to mention and take a look at.
Hope this helps some,
You have obviously been feed a ton of propaganda by the American health insurance industry.
I am from Canada, and having used both the the Canadian and US system I can say without a doubt that the Canadian health care system is far superior. Wait time are not 4 months, and those that exist are only for non-essential surgeries. If you are sick or injured you will receive some of the best care in the world. My father had lymphoma and spent months in the hospital. He received excellent care, and didn't have to worry about the insurance not covering him. He fully recovered.
The times I have gone to the hospital in the US even with BCBS coverage have been slow, complicated, and expensive.
The Canadian system although not perfect, destroys what you have in the USA. I would never consider for a second that Canada should adapt a US system. You really are paying WAY more for exactly the same procedures. The Canadian system is per capita is far cheaper. Dollar for Dollar we do way better. Hospitals in Canada only bill the government around $100 a night for a room, as apposed to the thousands of dollars that the US insurance companies get charged.
Health care is one of the very few things where the free market does not do a better job.
I enjoy Neal Boortz's ability to pull out the one or two sob stories about NHS or Canada's health care system, illustrating that it could happen to you if you vote for a candidate who supports universal health care. Nothing puts fear in the eyes of sheeple than to think that there's a remote chance that daddy won't get covered for cancer drugs. Never mind that retroactive denials make that possible each day under our current system.
The health care system can work in the free market, IF the lobbyists stay away from Washington under penalty of imprisonment or worse and IF parasite lawyers stay away from the courtroom, AND if retroactive denials are not permitted. If not, we're destined to establish socialized health care but probably an inferior one to Canada's since it would amplify the corruption.
It's interesting that people still believe the health care system is even remotely capitalist at this point.
We're with United, and the insurance broker told me my hubby's company will prob be switching to BCBS when the term expires later this yr because United just lost all of the Wake Medical facilities Fortunately, they are affiliated with all the Duke places - urgent cares, hospitals, doctors - which are the closest to our house and his work.
After I read this I realized this is an old thread that has come back to life, but just for anyone reading this now and worrying: United Healthcare and Wake Med have resolved their differences. WakeMed, UnitedHealthcare Sign New Contract :: WRAL.com
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Fortunately, they are affiliated with all the Duke places - urgent cares, hospitals, doctors - which are the closest to our house and his work.
